Workpiece supporting cradle



A. RINGZELLI WORKPIECE SUPPORTING CRADLE Nam 9, 159430 Filed June 18,1941 Patented Nov. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,334,;27 r v Y Ywon'rcrieciz. SUPPORTINGVCBADLE Arthur Rin -zero, Chicago, 111.:Application June 18, 1941, Serial-1N0. 398,576

a claims. (01. 77-463)] ,1"

This invention relates to improvements in work piece supporting cradlesand it consists of :the

matters hereinafter described and more particu larly pointed out in theappended claims.

One of theobjects of the invention is'to provide a a cradle forsupporting a piece of work, such as a die, jig or the like, whiledrilling, counterboring, tapping, milling or grinding the same and whichcradle, though simple in construction, is sturdy andis of such weightthat it may be readily handled and moved about from one place of use toanother. 3

Another object of the invention is to provide a cradle of this kind,which is rigid in use to assure accuracy of workmanship for the piece,

supported thereon and at the same time-is capable of being readilyadjusted intomany difierent positions to meet many requirements as tothe work piece to be supported by the cradle.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindwhich may be arranged in ,a folded condition so as to occupy but alittle space for storage in periods between uses.

Furthermorait is an object ofthe'invention to provide a deviceot thiskind, from which chips, filings and small pieces removed from the.supported piece of work, and which maylodgeupon the supporting surfaceof the cradle, may be readily removed. 7 W l J The abovementionedobjectsof the invention,

Fig. 6 a detail vertical sectional view through a corner part of one'ofthe framesof the cradle as taken on the line 6-5 of Fig. 1.

In general, the improved 1workgp1ece'supporting cradle includes aplurality ,of's counterpart ,frameswhich generally stand in .a uprightposi- In connection with said frames'there is provided tion and each ofwhich has parallel top and bottom rails or members andwpostswhich=operatively connect the top and bottomrails of each frame togetherat longitudinally, spaced points.

a rigid barelike means whichv extend between likev members of the framesfor holding them rigidly in position. The rigid" bar-like means is ofsuch construction and is so connected to said like members of the framesthat the frames maybe readily adjusted into the desiredlaterally spacedand angularly disposed relations. As shown herein; the." frames areallof the same height and 201.

length, but said framesunder certain conditions may have differentlengths.

Referring now in detail to thatembodiment o! the invention illustratedin the accompanying drawing, the improved cradle includes a plurality ofgenerally upright, open, rectangular'unit like frames IE-+40 and ahorizontally extendingrigid l connecting bar II.

The frames Ill-Illin this instance are counterparts having the sameheight as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will morefully appear, as the specification proceeds. I 1

In the drawingi Fig. l is a perspective viewof a work piece supportingcradle embodying thepreferred form of the invention, with the parts inone laterally spaced and angularlydisposed position. I I

Fig. 2 is a view of the cradle of Fig. -1 when supporting a piece ofwork that requires a-difierent spacing and angular disposition betweenthe parts, from that appearing inFig.,1.

Fig. 3, is a perspective view illustrating. certain .ofjthe parts" ofthe cradle .in' akno'ckeddown condition to accommodate" apieceof'workrequiring a further differentfiarrangementof the parts fromthat shown in Figs. ,1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal. secti taken on the line 5-5ofFig. 1. o I

and length, it being more important that said units be the same inheight rather than in length.

I, Eachunit-like frame in this instancecomprises top and bottom andgenerally horizontal parallel -'rails i2 and 13 respectively and apairof upright I connecting posts 14-44 disposed between and connecting thelike ends of said rails together. It is preferable that theposts ll-.44of each frame be parallel and they are so hereinshown. Each "rail I2 andI3; which is .herein shown "as'of a 1 substantiallyrectangular crosssection, has='side,

upper and lower flat surfaces; In each;.ofsaid surfaces is one ormorelongitudinal grooves l5,

. into which chips, filings and other small parts v nalv1ewthrough thecradle, on an enlarged scale, as taken on I the lined-4 of Fig. 1, whentheicradlejs in a removed from the work piece supported by the acradleenter for an easy removal. Another advantage afiorded by said grooves isthat they permit of'a better action when said surfaces are beinggroundx,

I -I preferto attach the ends. oi the rails-to the ends of the posts bymeans of set screws l6 as best shown in Fig. 6 so that the top surfaceof the top rail and the bottom surface of the bottom rail is eacha flushsurface and devoid of any projecting parts. In the centerof the bottomrail is a thre aded opening I! best shown in Fig.5. 1 Therigidconneoting bar is provided with a central, longitudinally extendingslot I 8, which extends substantiallyfrom end to end thereof, and has awidth approximating the diameter of the opening I! just above mentioned.Preferably, this bar, which also has fiat top and bottom surfaces, has alength considerably more than that of the frames |!0.

The bottom member of each frame has associated therewith, a clampingscrew N! that includes a shank "of a diameter to pass through the slotH3 in the connecting bar II. The bottom end of the shank is screwthreaded to match the thread of the opening I! in the bottom rail of theframe with which it is associated. On the upper end of the shank isahead 2| of a diameter somewhat more than thewidth of the slot l 8 inthe connecting bar. This head is knurled externally as shown and is alsoprovided with a transverse opening 22 into which the end of a simpletool may be inserted for turning the screw, clamping tight.

In assemblingthe-eradle, the two frames are disposed in an-uprightcondition and then the bar This inserted through said frames and engagedonthe upper surfaces of the rails [3-43.

At'this time the ends of the bar extend beyond the frames. The bar isdisposed with its slot 18 exposing the threaded holes 17 in therails 13of both frame's.- Oneof the screws 1 9 isthen insert- 'ed, threaded enddown, through the slotin the bar and into the hole in its associatedrail. .By turning the knurled heads of the screws by means ofthefingers, the heads of said screws can be 'causedto' gripthe bar andclampit reasonably tight to the rails 43-13 of both :frames; This holdsthe frames an upright position. At this time, the frames may be movedlaterally toward or awayvfromcone another and maybe turned :aiooutith'axes of the screws 19 int :the desired relative angular positionrequired by the piece of work to be operated upon. The frames may then 1he held inthe adjuste'd'qaosition-by tightening the ,screws and wherebythe bar M is clamped .between ea'chlower rail and the head (of theassoci- 'atediscrew; i

.In Fig. :2 I have shown a piece'o-f ,work 23 as supported-by thecradle'an'd as engaged at its end lportions upon the top surface of thetop rails 912-12 of both frames. With the, piece of work :thussupported, it :may be drilled, ,counterbored, tapped or otherwise workedupon, either by ,machine or hand, in ajvery convenient manner. :Bychanging the'latera'l spacing :between the frames "and the relative'angiularity thereof, it :is apparent that the tcradle may be used tosupport work pieces of manyldiiieren t shapes and sizes for-1am curate"work thereon. 1

- in theangu'lar relation of said frames.

ed upon. It i indeed safe in use and has time saving features that areappreciated by tool mak ers and other skilled mechanics and has manyuses aroundshops where metal and other craftsmen are employed.

While'in describing the invention, I have re-' ferred in detail to theconstruction, form and ar-- 'rangement of the parts involved, the sameis to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wishto be limited thereto except as may be specifically-set forth in theappended" claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A work piece supportin cradle embodying therein a plurality oflaterally spaced, upright, substantially open frames, each including atop work engageable member and a bottom base member and posts connectingsaid members together at longitudinally spaced points, rigid meansextending between like members of said frames for holding them uprightinlaterally spaced relation, and means for attaching saidrigid means tosaid like members'of' said frames, said attaching means being operativeto provide adjustment in thelateral spacing betweenand 2: A work piecesupporting cradle embodying therein aplurality of laterally spaced,upright,

substantially open frames, each including 13, top work-engageable memberand a'bottorn base member andpos'ts connecting said members together atlongitudinally spaced points, rigid means extending between the bottommembers ofsaid jframes 'for'holdin'g them upright inlat- "erally spacedrelation, and means forattaching said'ri'gidmeans to said bottom members.Ofrs'aid frames, said attaching means being operable-to "provideadjustment the lateral spacing be.

tween-and-in the angular relation of said fraines. 3.;A work piecesupporting cradle embodying therein'afpmrality of spaced uprightsubstantiai- 1y open frames, each includinga. top work engageable memberand-a bottom basemember and posts connecting said members tog-ether atlongitudinaliy spaced points, a rigid fbar extending, be-

tween like "members of sa'id' irames for holding when upright inlaterally -spaced'relation, said Y bar having a'longitudinal slot;thereiii clamping means extending through a part'ofsaidbar and"into-oneof said like members-of one frame for riivotally connectingsaid -part of *the bar'tosaid In some instances, mayibe desired-to supprt I a workpiece -2-4 inrthe manner. shown :in Fig. .3. "We sosuppontithework piece, the screws '19 and -the'loa r j H emeremoved'so-that both frames may be disposed upon theirsides.

"When it is" desired to store the cradle duri ng relatively long periodsof non u'se, it is onlynec- 'es'sary to loosen "the screws I9 and bringsaid frames IH- m togeiilier-side-by-side with the c'onnectingbar I Idisposed in a slightly-angiflar' posiposition, W-hi'ch be'st apand is"easy to'--m'anipulate when making thEfdB- tsired' adjustment "for "thework piece *to -be, operat- The' screws ts may then be tightened to oneof said "ii'ke' members, and -clam-p'i'ng means extending through saidslot in said bar into'said, one of said like members, both of saidclamping) "meansbeing operable to provide ad jiistmerrtin 'ifl'ie':lateral spacing between therein a plurality of spaced upr'ightsubstan-'tfi'a ll-y -'open--frames, eachinclud-ing work, engageable member and abottom base 'member and posts connecting said members together at slotin said "bar andihavinga screw threa'diedcngagement at one end in thelike-.members'df said -frames, sai d clamping members each" havingaportion at the other end for clamping engagement with said barsv forholding'saidjframes in thelaterally and angularly adjusted relation.

- 5; A work piece supporting zcradle embodying therein a pluralityofEsubs'tantially open frames.

and in the'an gular rlattionof'saidframes. v t I fl. A work piece'support'lng cradle embodying each including top and bottom railsandposts connecting said rails together at longitudinally spaced points,the upper surface of the top members of saidframes having spaced apartchannels therein, rigid means extending between like members of saidframes for holding them in laterally spaced relation, and means forattaching said rigid means to like members of said frames,

said attaching means being operable to provide adjustment in the lateralspacing between and in the angular relation between said frames.

6. A work piece supporting cradle embodying therein a plurality oflaterally spaced upright substantially open frames, each including topand bottom members and'posts connecting said members together atlongitudinally spaced points,

a rigid bar engaged with the upper surface of the bottom members of saidframes, and screw, threaded clamping members, vone for each frame, 1 I

each clamping member includingya part extending through said bar andhaving a threaded en-.-

gagement in the bottom member of the, associ# ated frame, and eachclamping member includ-- ing an enlarged head for clamping against theupper surface of said bar.

'7. A work piece supporting cradle embodying therein a plurality oflaterally spaced, upright,

substantially open; frames, each including top and bottom members andposts connecting said members together at longitudinally spaced points,a rigid bar engaged with the upper surv including an enlarged head forvclamping against I the upper surface of said bar;

ARTHUR RINGZELLI

